Ballast removing and cleaning method



M. J. SPENO Jan. 16, 1968 BALLAST REMOVING AND CLEANING METHOD 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb.

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BY lb wan/ C042 i Lm LLi. 4 ZLJgLLugN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,363,697 BALLAST REMOVING AND CLEANING METHOD Martin J. Spent), R0. Box 219, Syracuse, N.Y. 13201 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 417,440, Dec. 10, 1964. This application Feb. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 614,199

8 Claims. (Cl. 171-16) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of removing railway ballast from between the track ties for cleaning by directing high velocity fluid jets laterally inwardly against the wall of a previously formed trench to engage and free the ballast from below and direct the same generally upwardly and inwardly.

Additional steps for cleaning the ballast include inter- I cepting the ballast to cause the same to fall back into position in the cribs while allowing the fluid with entrained dirt to flow to a remote location.

This application is a continuation-in-part application of my copending application entitled Ballast Cleaner, Ser. No. 417,440, filed Dec. 10, 1964, now US. Patent No. 3,326,293. Insofar as the subject matter common to this and said copending application is concerned, this is also a division of the subject matter claimed in said copending application.

This invention relates to improvements in a method of removing and cleaning railway ballast and, more particularly, to a method for carrying out such operation that can be progressively performed along the track.

As is well known, in order to properly maintain the roadbed of a railroad track, it is necessary that the ballast be periodically cleaned to remove dirt, mud and other foreign matter therefrom, since when such matter is intermixed with the ballast sufficiently to clog the interstices between ballast particles to a substantial degree, it interferes with proper drainage and also detracts from the firmness or solidity of the roadbed. Improper drainage and retention of dirt in the ballast both contribute to premature deterioration of the wooden crossties of the track.

It has been found that adequate drainage can be maintained by cleaning the ballast on the shoulders of the roadbed, and in the outer crib spaces between the outer ends of the ties, even though the medial portions of the crib ballast are not cleaned, or are cleaned at relatively greater intervals.

The invention includes an improved process for accomplishing ballast cleaning of this type by the use of jet blast nozzles directing fluid jets at high velocities against the ballast both to remove and to clean the ballast so removed.

Though it has been known in the prior art to use such blast jets for removal of ballast, the jets have emanated from nozzles located above the level of the ties and between the rails, thereby requiring that the fluid jets be directed downwardly against the upper surface of the ballast and outwardly for the purpose of displacing the ballast laterally outwardly.

Such prior arrangement necessarily requires spacing of the jet nozzles above the level of the roadbed in order that they might clear the ties, with the result that the fluid blast jet issuing therefrom will have been partially dissipated even before reaching the ballast. Such dissipation is contributed to by the fact that the jet blasts will be permitted to disperse laterally above the crossties. Moreover, the jet streams are directed in acute angular relationship to the normally highly packed or compacted upper surface of the roadbed, with resulting deflection of the jet blast and utilization of only a comparatively small portion of its energy for ballast removal. Of perhaps even greater importance is the fact that the depth to which the jet or jets of fluid will penetrate and remove the ballast under such conditions depends upon a number of variables, such as the distance of the jet nozzles from the ballast surface, the degree of compaction, the type and condition of the ballast and the dirt or impurities therein, the forward speed of the car or carriage by which the nozzles are moved along the track.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, the present invention has as its primary objects a more eflicient utilization of the blast jet energy for removal of ballast, a more precise control of the depth to which the ballast is removed, a dual utilization of the jet blasts for both removal and cleaning of the ballast, utilization of part of the residual energy of the blast jets for replacing cleaned ballast on the roadbed, the performance of pneumatic removal, cleaning and replacement of ballast as a single operation, and in general an improved method for removing and cleaning ballast from the outer crib portions of a railroad track.

With these objects in view, the present invention contemplates dispositions of the blast jet nozzle or nozzles for movement in a trench below the level of the roadbed and upper surfaces of the ties and laterally outwardly from the ends of the ties, with the nozzles arranged to direct the jet blasts or streams laterally inwardly and upwardly toward the center of the track. This arrangement and the mode of procedure facilitates determination of the maximum depth to which the material is removed, which depth will coincide with the level from which the lowermost jet or jets emanate. The invention further contemplates the successive removal of layers or strata of ballast to successively greater depth by nozzles or groups thereof disposed at different levels.

The scouring or eroding action of the jet blasts on the ballast are relied upon for removing the dirt therefrom and entraining it, while a fluid current separation of the heavy ballast particles from the relatively lighter dirt particles is achieved through utilization of the fluid current created by the jets for removal of the dirt. In addition to fluid current separation, there may also be employed a mechanical barrier or screen interposed in the path of the ballast particles to arrest the velocity initially imparted thereto by the jets so that said particles may fall by gravity back downwardly through the fluid stream. Preferably the falling ballast is confined between baffles which direct it back into the same lateral area of the roadbed from which it was originally displaced.

The foregoing, as well as other incidental objects and advantages, and the practicing of a new process of the present invention, are all attainable through use of the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation with various parts broken away, of the apparatus of the invention, same being illustrated as supported on a railway flat car for movement along a conventional railroad track;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 through the ballast removing and cleaning mechanism of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of said apparatus, this view being taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical section substantially on the line 4--4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, and first considering FIGURES 1 and 2, the apparatus of the invention is adapted for transportation along and 70 parallel to a railroad track by a suitable ambulatory support such as a conventional flat car C, the chassis of which is exemplified .by a main, central, longitudinal sill S supported by conventional flanged wheels W for movement along the parallel rails R of the track. As usual, the rails R are supported on wooden crossties T which are at least partially embedded in the ballast B of the roadbed. The apparatus of the invention as hereinafter described is supported primarily from the horizontal bed or platform P which, in turn, is secured on the chassis or sill S of the car.

As is well known, it is necessary that the ballast be periodically cleaned to remove dirt in the form of mud, earth, leaves, and other foreign matter therefrom, inas much as such foreign matter clogs the interstices between the ballast particles to interfere with proper drainage such as is necessary to maintain the solidity of the roadbed and to prevent premature deterioration of the wooden crossties.

It has been found that adequate drainage can be maintained by cleaning the ballast on the shoulders of the roadbed just outwardly of the tie ends and also in the outer crib spaces between the outer ends of the ties. The method and apparatus of the present invention accomplish this in improved manner, by supporting laterally inwardly directed jet nozzles for movement through trenches formed just laterally outwardly of the ends of the ties, and directed against the inner vertical walls of such trenches.

For forming such trenches in the roadbed shoulders on opposite sides of the track, there may be mounted on each side of the car C a scoop S comprising a rigid scoop frame pivotally connected at 11 to a suitable outrigger support or beam 12 which is laterally adjustable through a guide sleeve 13 suitable affixed to the car platform or bed P.

For adjusting the cutting depth of the scoop, there is provided a suitable fluid actuated unit including a cylinder 14 pivotally supported at 15 from the upper end of a standard 16 which in turn is carried on a laterally adjustable outrigger or beam 12a guided for lateral adjustment through a sleeve 13a affixed to the horizontal car platform P.

The piston rod 17 of the unit is pivotally connected at 18 to the forward end portion of the scoop frame 10.

Carried at such forward end portion of the scoop is a forwardly projecting scoop or plow blade 20 extending horizontally between the relatively laterally spaced vertical forward edges 21 of the scoop frame 10, such edges 21 being adapted to cut the side vertical walls of the trench whereas the horizontal blade 20 is adapted to form the bottom of the trench, all in accordance with usual practice.

As the ballast is removed by the combined actions of blade 20 and edges 21, it is received within the scoop and moved onto the upper run of a rearwardly and upwardly moving endless conveyor 22 which is supported and guided around relatively spaced front and rear rolls 23 and 24 respectively. It will be understood that the drive may be imparted to the conveyor 22 through either of its rolls 23 or 24 by any conventional means.

The scoop conveyor 22 in turn delivers the ballast rearwardly and discharges it onto a further conveyor generally designated 25 having a rearwardly and upwardly moving operative run 26. Preferably the conveyor run 26 carries the dirty ballast to a suitable processing and cleaning apparatus of conventional type and the cleaned ballast is subsequently redistributed in the trench thus formed in order to fill same, or if desired may be delivered to other locations along the track or into a trailing hopper car.

While it is desirable from a practical standpoint that the scoop or trench-forming mechanism above described be carried by the same ambulatory support or car which transports the mechanism of the invention, this is by no means essential since it will be realized that the trench in which the apparatus of the invention operates may be 4 formed by other and separate mechanism or even by hand labor.

It will sufiice simply that the trench be formed laterally outwardly just beyond the ends of the ties T, and to a depth preferably somewhat below the bottoms of the ties in order to allow ample room for operation of the invention. Preferably the trench extends sufficiently closely to the ends of the ties as to substantially remove the ballast from them so that the outwardly directed relatively vertical wall of the trench thus formed is defined alternately by the wholly or partially exposed tie ends and the intervening sections of the outer crib ballast between adjoining tie ends.

The apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention may broadly comprise at least one and preferably a plurality of jet blast nozzles 30 which are carried by the car C, in the manner later described, and supplied with fluid, such as water or air or a mixture of the two in the form of steam, the selected fluid being in all cases at exceedingly high pressures to create laterally inwardly and upwardly directed blasts or jets of fluid. The jet nozzles 30 are normally supported for movement along the trench at levels below the upper surface of the ballast, and thus are directed substantially horizontally against the outwardly directed trench wall as above described, whereby to blow the dirty ballast inwardly and upwardly from between the outer end portions of adjoining ties and to a depth which may readily be determined by the level of the lowermost jet or jet nozzles. Preferably, there is provided a group of jet nozzles 30 adjacent both ends of the ties, as shown in FIGURE 2; however, it will be realized that the high pressure jets of fluid may have sufficient momentum to carry the majority of entrained ballast and foreign material along the full length of the crib under both rails R and into the opposite trench thus allowing the method to be performed with only one group of jet nozzles 30 positioned in the trench at either end of the ties T.

The use of high velocity jets of water or other liquid has been found to be particularly well adapted for use in carrying out the method of the invention under certain conditions, such as, when the ballast is of particularly large size and/ or when the ballast is unusually dirty and compacted. This is so since the ballast freeing and carrying momentum of the water jets is greater than when a less dense fluid such as air is used. Further, in the case where the roadbed being operated on passes through an inhabited area, the use of water prevents the formation of annoying dust since the solid particles are successfully trapped and carried away in solution with the water. A particularly successful removing and cleaning operation has been found to occur when the individual water jets are constructed to a size of approximately inch in diameter prior to injection into the ballast with the water being supplied under 4,000 lbs./ sq. in. of pressure.

The upwardly emerging and inwardly directed stream of fluid and dirty ballast is intercepted by a combined dcfiector and separator structure, generally designated 32 in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. The thus removed particles of ballast, having been cleaned by the action thereon of the jet blasts, are returned to the outer ends of the cribs and adjacent end portions of the ties, while the fluid with its entrained dirt particles is discharged at a separate location, all as hereinafter more fully described.

It is desirable to support the blast nozzle or nozzles 30 from the flat car for both lateral adjustment and vertical adjustment, so that they may be positioned to clear the crossties at the desired lateral distance and also may be selectively positioned for operation at the desired depth. Similar means is preferably employed for so supporting the nozzles 30 on either side of the car. Such means is exemplified by the rigid main frame 33 which, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, has rigidly aflixed laterally projecting parallel support legs 34 telescopically received in guide sleeves 35 respectively affixed to the car geld P by means of the standards 36 and medial support Each main frame 33 is thus supported for lateral adjustment, which adjustment is effected in this embodiment by means of a fluid actuated double acting cylinder and piston unit having its cylinder 38 connected at 39 to the medial support 37 and its piston rod 4t connected at 41 to frame 33.

The main frame 33 further comprises vertical tubular sleeves or guides 42 rigidly interconnecting its cross pieces 43 and 44. These guides telescopically receive tubular supports 45-45 respectively constituting rigid portions of a vertically adjustable sub-frame which further includes a longitudinal horizontal member 46 interconnecting the lower ends of said supports 4545. Vertical adjustment of this sub-frame is produced by double acting cylinder and piston unit, the cylinder 47 of which is affixed to the cross members 43 and 44 of the main frame 33, and the piston rod 48 of which is connected at 49 to the sub-frame by way of a hood or deflector 5d secured to the horizontal subframe member 46.

A vertical supporting plate 51 depends from and is carried by the member 46 parallel to the center line of the track and to the movement of the apparatus therealong. It will be seen in FIGURE 2 that each such supporting plate 51 is normally positioned in laterally outwardly spaced relation from the ends of the ties, and that the nozzle or nozzles 30 are carried on the inner face of the plate, preferably in several separate groups or gangs 3tla, 30b and 300, disposed at successively lower levels from front to rear with respect to the movement of the plate 51 along the trench, to remove successively lower layers of ballast as they move forwardly with the plate.

Preferably the plate 51 is supported by the sub-frame 45, 46 so that it may yield rearwardly in the event it encounters an immovable obstacle such as the projecting end of a tie. For this purpose the plate 51 is suspended from a slide 52 preferably integrally attached thereto along its upper horizontal edge. As is shown in FIGURE 2, this slide 52 is guided for longitudinal horizontal movement in a guide channel formed within the sub-frame member 46 and the plate 51 depends downwardly from its slide 52 through a downwardly directing rectilinear slot 53 in member 46.

Each group or gang of nozzles 30a, 39b and 300 is defined in the present embodiment by a row of suitably arranged orifices opening from the interior of a tubular manifold 54 carried by the plate 51 on its inner face and is supplied with fluid such as water, air or steam at exceedingly high pressures, through branch conduits 55a, 55b and 550 respectively communicating with a common conduit section 56 which in turn communicates with one of the hollow tubular conduits 45 which is closed at its ends and which receives fluid from a suitable fluid pressure source not illustrated.

A shear pin 57 as shown in FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 4 extends transversely through the frame member 46 and slide 52 to secure the plate 51 against rearward longitudinal displacement under usual operating conditions, but will of course be sheared to permit rearward displacement of the plate 51 and its associated jet blast nozzles, in the event the plate encounters an obstacle during its forward movement. A breakaway, high-pressure, selfcleaning coupling 58 of conventional structure is preferably interposed in the fluid conduit 56 to permit such breaking away without damage to the fluid supply lines or conduits.

As has been earlier mentioned, the high velocity blast jets emanating from the nozzles 30 are directed laterally inwardly and preferably substantially horizontally or somewhat upwardly toward the ends of the ties and the intervening crib ends.

To permit adjustment of the vertical inclination of the respective nozzles 3t) and the fluid jets issuing therefrom each of the jet manifolds 54a, 54b and 540 is of cylindrical exterior formation, with its cylindrical axis horizontal and parallel to the track, and is supported for rotary adjustment about its axis in collars 60 aflixed to the plate 51.

The hood 50 preferably comprises a deflector plate which extends laterally across and in spaced relation above the supporting member 46 and the nozzle supporting plate 51. The deflector plate or deflector 50 is curbed arcuately in a direction transversely to the track and has its concave side disposed downwardly. The hood Stl is here utilized as the means for supporting a depending baifle or deflector 61 laterally inwardly of and above the nozzles 30, for movement just above the crossties T, and in position to intercept the inwardly and upwardly flowing fluid streams with their entrained material, as they emerge inwardly and upwardly from between adjoining ties T. The baflle or deflector 61 thus functions to arrest the inward movement of the ballast particles which are carried upwardly with the fluid blast jets issuing from the nozzles 30, while at the same time deflecting the now slower moving fluid streams and their entrained dirt upwardly into the hood 50.

In order that the deflector plate 61 might move along the roadbed with its lower edge in engagement or near engagement with the upper faces of the ties, and yield upwardly to override raised tie ends or other upward protrusions, the plate 61 is hinged along its upper edge at 62 to the laterally inner edge of the hood 50, with its laterally outwardly curved and offset lower edge thus out of the vertical alignment with the hinge axis, so that its engagement with upwardly projecting ties or obstacles may cause it to swing outwardly and upwardly toward the positions shown in broken lines in FIGURE 2.

Preferably the ends of the hood are closed by the end members 63-453, as will be apparent from FIGURE 4. While the action of gravity alone may be relied upon under some conditions to separate the ballast from the upwardly flowing fluid current with its entrained dirt, it is desirable to provide a strong screen 64 across the downwardly opening mouth of the hood to intercept ballast particles and cause them to drop back into the trench after being cleaned by the fluid blast. The mesh of the screen 64 is of such a size as to bar the passage therethrough of the relatively large particles of ballast while freely permitting passage of the smaller and lighter particles of dirt and foreign matter.

The combined deflecting actions of the deflector plate or baffle 61 and the curved under surface of the hood 50 may be relied upon for directing the fluid stream and dirt upwardly and outwardly over the top of the supporting plate 51for discharge of the dirt on the laterally outer side of the trench, as indicated on the righthand side of FIGURE 2, particularly if the nozzles 30 are operating at a sufficiently shallow depth as to leave the upper gang or group 30a thereof above the ballast surface so as to impinge directly on the deflector plate or baffle 61 and be deflected around the entire inner face of the interconnected balfle and hood 50 to the laterally outer edge of the hood. In this connection, it will be noted that the baffle 61 and hood 50 normally define together a con tinuous curved deflecting surface along which the particles of dirt will be guided and impelled by the combined actions of the fluid stream and centrifugal force.

However, where the blast nozzles 30 are all working at substantial depth, it may be found desirable to supplement this action by an auxiliary blast of air or other fluid led into the hood 50 from a suitable source of such fluid under pressure and directed laterally or circumferentially toward the outer edge portion thereof by means not herein illustrated. Or, if desired, the passage of fluid upward into the hood may be augmented by a suction pipe 65 connecting the hood with a suitable source of suction, such as the intake of a blower or other equivalent and conventional means (not illustrated).

Operation In the operation of the foregoing mechanism to carry out the process of the present invention, the ambulatory support defined by the flat car is moved along the rails R in a forward direction as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 1, with the scoop frame 10 lowered by suitable actuation of the fluid cylinder $14 so that the scoop blade and vertical cutting edges such as 21 will form a trench in the ballast to a depth preferably somewhat below the bottoms of the ties, substantially as indicated in FIGURE 2, it being understood that the scoop will be laterally adjusted to make the trench with its inner laterally outwardly directed wall substantially perpendicular and closely adjacent the ends of the ties T so as to substantially expose the latter, leaving there between intermittent generally vertical ballast walls between relatively adjoining tie ends. The ballast removed by the scoop will be delivered onto the infeed conveyor 25 of a suitable ballast processing or cleaning mechanism, or alternatively, for delivery to any suitable point. Normally, it will be found advantageous after cleaning the ballast thus removed to deliver it back into the trench rearwardly of the blast nozzle assembly.

The blast nozzle assembly including the supporting plate 51 and several nozzle manifolds 54a, 54b and 540, which moves along the trench in trailing relation to the scoop, is adjusted for movement closely adjacent the outer ends of the ties, with at least one and preferably all of its blast nozzles located at levels below the surface of the crib ballast, substantially as shown in FIGURE 2. These nozzles are directed laterally inwardly and upwardly toward the center of the roadbed and in the preferred arrangement the disposition of the nozzles is generally vertically coextensive with the ties.

The several gangs or groups, a, 30b and 300 of nozzles disposed at successively lower levels in the preferred embodiment remove the ballast in successively deeper layers or strata to the desired depth and by such successive action to facilitate the ballast removal. Manifestly, the exposed roughened outer walls presented by the crib ballast between the ends of adjoining ties are penetrated by the inwardly directed high velocity blast jets emanating from the nozzles. Obviously the blast jets in loosening and carrying away the individual particles of ballast will by their strong erosive action also remove from each of the particles smaller particles of mud, dirt and other foreign material adhering thereto.

The maximum depth to which the ballast is removed is readily determined by the level of the lowermost group of nozzles 300. The upwardly inclined jets, while penetrating the ballast, are confined between relatively adjoining ties to prevent their lateral dispersing and loss of velocity and upon emerging upwardly and inwardly from between the ties, will carry with them both the displaced ballast and the entrained particles of mud, dirt and foreign material. Upon emerging to a location above the ties, the jets or jet streams with their entrained material are intercepted and deflected upwardly by the baflie plate 61 which moves along with the blast nozzles just above the upper surfaces of the ties and laterally inwardly of the nozzles. By virtue of their hinged mountings 62, and the laterally outwardly offset relation of their lower edges with respect to the hinge axes, each such deflector plate will normally be caused to swing upwardly and outwardly as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2, by engagement with an obstacle or raised tie end in order to clear same without damage.

As the jet fluid streams with their entrained material are deflected upwardly and inwardly by the baffles 61, the relatively smaller and lighter particles of mud, dust, dirt and foreign material in general will move freely upwardly through the screen 64 and into the hood 50, for movement laterally outwardly across as above the supporting member 46 and supporting plate 51 to be discharged generally laterally outwardly and downwardly on O C) the laterally outer side of the ditch, all as indicated in FIGURE 2.

The relatively larger and heavier particles of ballast, however, will have their upward movement arrested by the screen 64, whereby they will drop back by gravity and due to their confinement between the baflie 61 and the plate 51 which also functions as a baffle, they will be directed downwardly into the outer crib portions between the adjoining tie ends and to some extent on the end portions of the ties themselves as well as on the laterally inner side of the trench. It should be observed that the upward movement of the ballast particles as they approach the level of the screen 64 normally is due primarily from the inertia imparted to them by the jet streams at the time of their dislodgement from the roadbed. Obviously however, as the jet streams issuing from the nozzles expand in cross section and are dispersed by engagement with the dirty ballast, during the course of upward movement of fluid toward the screen, the velocity thereof will be slowed or decreased considerably so that the space beneath the screen and between the plates 51 and 61 functions as a vertical fluid current separator in which the fluid current while sufficient to maintain the dirt and foreign matter entrained for continued upward movement, will normally be insuthcient to maintain the heavier ballast particles entrained or to cause continued upward movement thereof, particularly after their upward velocity has been arrested by the screen 64. It will be appreciated also that as fresh ballast is continually removed by the uppermost leading group of nozzles 30a, the ballast previously removed and treated will normally tend to drop back into the trench, articularly adjacent the lowermost training group of nozzles 300.

In the event the nature and condition of the ballast and the depth to which it is removed are such that the upflowing fluid streams from the blast nozzles 30 is insufl icient to maintain the dirt and foreign matter entrained during its complete passage through and discharge from the hood St the fluid flow upwardly into the hood may be augmented by use of the suction conduit 65 and its associated evacuating means or source of suction (not shown). Alternatively, if desired the source of suction may be such as to withdraw all of the upwardly moving fluid and its entrained dirt through the suction conduit 65 for discharge at any suitable location, making unnecessary the lateral outward and downward discharge of fluid and entrained matter to the laterally outer or far side of the trench as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

In this application I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of my invention, simply by way of illustrating the preferred mode contemplated by me of carrying out the invention, as by law required. However, I recognize that the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and that its several details may be modified in various obvious ways without departing from my inventive concept. Accordingly, the disclosure herein is to be considered as merely illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

I claim:

1. The method of removing ballast from the crib area of a railroad track comprising the steps of forming a trench adjacent the ends of the ties of the track to a depth below the upper surface of the crib ballast so as to form an outwardly facing wall of crib ballast and directing a high velocity fluid jet laterally inwardly and substantially horizontally against said wall at a level below said upper surface of said crib ballast whereby to cause the fluid from said fluid jet with entrained ballast and foreign material engaged from below to emerge generally upwardly and inwardly for removal of said ballast from between the ties to a depth corresponding to the level of said fluid jet.

2. The method of removing ballast in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of forming the trench is carried out continuously along the track and wherein is provided the additional step of moving said fluid jet longitudinally along said trench while said jet is directed toward said wall to progressively remove said ballast along said track.

3. The method of removing ballast in accordance with claim 2 wherein is provided the additional steps of directing an additional fluid jet against said wall behind and at a level below the first mentioned fluid jet, and moving said additional fluid jet along said trench in spaced rela tionship with respect to said first mentioned fluid jet, whereby said ballast is removed at successively lower levels during the movement of said fluid jets along said trench.

4. The method of removing ballast in accordance with claim 1 wherein is provided the additional step of intercepting the inwardly and upwardly moving ballast and permitting it to drop back downwardly into said crib area.

5. The method of removing ballast in accordance with claim 4 wherein is provided the additional step of conveying the fluid from said fluid jet and its entrained foreign material to a position remote from said crib area.

6. The method of removing ballast in accordance with 10 claim '1 wherein is provided the additional step of deflecting the fluid from said fluid jet with entrained ballast and foreign material laterally outwardly above and across said trench.

7. The method of removing ballast. in accordance with claim 1 wherein is provided the additional step of pressurizing fluid to approximately 4,000 lbs./ sq. in. and constricting said fluid to approximately inch in diameter to form said fluid jet.

8. The method of removing ballast in accordance with claim 1 wherein is further provided the additional step of pressurizing the fluid and constricting said fluid to a sufficient degree to cause at least some of the entrained ballast and foreign material to be carried along the full length of said crib area to the opposite end of said ties.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,775,438 12/1956 Bach et a1. 17l-l6 ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Primary Examiner. 

